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Volleyball Posts Second Sweep of the Day

BY
Zach Lawson September 4, 2015

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – In its second match of the day, the University of Arkansas volleyball team knocked off host SIUE in the final match on day one of the Cougar Classic. Pilar Victoria led the team with a match-high 12 kills while Chanell Clark-Bibbs and Barbara Dapic each had nine. Defensively, the Razorbacks held their second opponent of the day below a .100 hitting percentage.

With her second dig of the match, senior Monica Bollinger moved into 15th place on Arkansas’ all-time digs list. She finished the match with five digs and currently has 822 in her career. Razorback libero Okiana Valle registered a match-best nine digs as Arkansas’ defense, coupled with six total blocks, limited SIUE to a .080 hitting efficiency.

With the scored tied at 7-all in the first set, Arkansas (4-1) took control of play with a five-point run that included two kills from Dapic, a kill and block from Breana Jones and a service ace from Adrien Wohlschlaeger. The lead grew to eight at 18-10 before the home team responded to pull within four points late in the set. On the team’s third set point, Liz Fortado split the SIUE block to clinch the opener for the Razorbacks.

Three early kills from Clark-Bibbs in the second forced an SIUE timeout with Arkansas leading, 6-3. After an early deficit in the set, the Razorback never trailed after the push from their senior middle blocker. The team turned a three-point edge into a 17-10 advantage with the help of a pair of service aces off the hand of Valle. Dapic and Ana Sofia Jusino teamed up for a block to give Arkansas set point. Two plays later, SIUE (1-3) gifted the Razorbacks the set with a service error.

The beginning of the third set featured five ties—the last of which came at 15-all—before Arkansas distanced itself with a mini run of three point which forced SIUE to take a timeout. The lead was down to one at 18-17 when the Razorbacks used a kill from Dapic and consecutive attack errors from the home team to regain the momentum. Arkansas maintained its lead and sealed the straight-set win when an SIUE attack landed out.

Following this weekend’s road trip, the team returns to Barnhill Arena Sept. 11-12 for the Razorback Invitational. Beginning at $40 and a free team knit hat with each purchase, season tickets are currently on sale online or through the Razorback Ticket Center by calling 800-982-4647.

For more information about Arkansas volleyball, follow @RazorbackVB on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter.